MINUTES

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PUBLIC MEETING

MARCH 2, 2010 - 7:00 p.m.

Council Chamber

All Members of Council

Development Services

Chair:              Councillor J. Webster

Vice-Chair:      Councillor D. Horchik

 

Attendance

Mayor F. Scarpitti Deputy Mayor J. Heath Regional Councillor J. Jones Regional Councillor J. Virgilio Councillor V. Burke Councillor E. Shapero Councillor D. Hamilton Councillor C. Moretti Councillor J. Webster Councillor D. Horchik Councillor L. Kanapathi Councillor A. Chiu   Regrets Regional Councillor G. Landon

J. Livey, Chief Administrative Officer J. Baird, Commissioner of Development Services V. Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design A. Brown, Director of Engineering D. Miller, Senior Project Coordinator, Special Projects A. Tari, Committee Clerk

 

 

The Development Services Public Meeting convened at 7:03 PM in the Council Chamber with Councillor J. Webster in the Chair.  

 

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

 

None disclosed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.         LANGSTAFF GATEWAY LAND USE
            & BUILT FORM MASTER PLAN AND
            PROPOSED OFFICIAL PLAN AND
            SECONDARY PLAN AMENDMENT (10.3, 10.4)

           

            Dec. 14, 2009 Development Services Committee Meeting Info:

            Report  Attachment Appendix A

 

            March 2, 2010 9:00 a.m. Development Services Committee Meeting Info:

            Report  Fig 1  App A(OP1)  App A(OP2) App A(OP3) App A (Tech Amendments)

            App B  App C  App D

 

Mr. Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services advised the Committee that tonight’s meeting is the Statutory Public Meeting to consider a Town initiated Amendment to the Official Plan (Revised 1987), as amended and a new Secondary Plan for the Langstaff area of Thornhill.  He stated it has been a long and inclusive public process.

 

The Committee Clerk advised that 474 notices were mailed on February 10, 2010, and a Public Meeting notice was published in the February 11^th and 18^th, 2010 edition of the local papers.  Five written submissions were received regarding this proposal.

 

Mr. Dave Miller, Senior Project Coordinator, Special Projects delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the draft Official Plan and Secondary Plan Amendments for the Langstaff area.  He briefly outlined the proposed residential, retail, commercial floor spaces and key benchmarks required for each of the three phases of development.

 

Mr. Peter Calthorpe, Calthorpe & Associates, delivered a PowerPoint presentation with respect to the Langstaff Gateway.  The presentation included the Land Use & Built Form Master Plan, street types and design guidelines.

 

Mr. Brian Hollingsworth, IBI, delivered a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Transportation Assessment for the Langstaff area.

 

There was brief discussion regarding potential risk factors associated to the proposed development such as the need to ensure that the developers do  provide the proposed innovative TDM measures (eg. car share).

 

Mr. Jeff King, MMM Group, delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing an overview of the Master Servicing Plan for the Langstaff area.

 

There was discussion regarding the transit circulator for the phase 1 development.  Staff advised that a detailed phasing plan will address this and that the proposal will include a transit circulator available from the beginning of construction of the development.

 

 

 

 

 

The Committee inquired what the proposal is for Heritage Homes.  Staff advised that further review of the individual homes and options to preserve them is required for the Heritage Homes and that will be addressed through the Precinct Plans process and development approvals.  Mr. Calthorpe indicated that he suggested the option of clustering the Heritage Homes around the Woodlot.

 

There was brief discussion with respect to the Markham District Energy (MDE) and staff confirmed that there are potential sites for MDE, to be confirmed prior to development approval.

 

Mr. Terry Goodwin, Thornhill resident, addressed the Committee with respect to the proposal for the Langstaff area and stated some concerns.  He believes that no development should occur prior to construction being underway for the required infrastructure.  Mr. Goodwin also spoke to the issue of transportation modal split

 

Mr. Mike Everard, representing Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery addressed the Committee regarding the proposed development for the Langstaff area and stated some concerns.  He indicated that a letter was submitted to planning staff outlining all of the cemetery’s concerns and highlighted a few of them for the Committee:  shortfall of park dedication and two schools without adjoining school yards that could potentially lead to pedestrians trespassing on the cemetery lands;  would like additional text included in the policy and guidelines to re-enforce the preservation of privacy (ensuring balcony’s do not overlook the cemetery).  He would like to have further discussions with MMM Group regarding the continuous water base flow.

 

There was discussion regarding the future development of the cemetery lands on the north east side of Langstaff Road.  The Committee inquired whether the Catholic Archdioceses would be amendable to having the Town acquire the lands (close to the Woodlot).  Committee also addressed potential environmental impact concerns regarding Mr. Everard’s comments  that the cemetery may propose to use the woodlot lands for placement of future columbariums.  Mr. Everard confirmed that he will bring the Committee’s comments back to his client.  The Committee suggested that further discussions with the representatives for the cemetery are also required with respect to the Urban Design, access and fencing issues raised by Mr. Everard. A number of Committee members commented on the need to pursue possible pedestrian connections across the cemetery site to link to the neighbourhoods to the south.

 

Mr. Stephane Deschens, Thornhill resident addressed the Committee regarding the proposed development for the Langstaff area stating that it is a good plan.  His main concern is that the future development seems to be isolated from the existing surrounding communities.  Mr. Deschens is disappointed with the lack of community spirit from the Holy Cross Cemetery.  He believes that the Town should implement a firm plan that connects the existing communities to the south to the phase one development in Langstaff, even if it requires expropriating lands from the cemetery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ms. Marion Matthias, Thornhill resident, addressed the Committee with respect to the proposed development in the Langstaff area and stated concerns that the Yonge Subway extension is not in the Provincial budget.  She advised the Committee that there was an important meeting scheduled for the Vaughan side of Thornhill this same evening, and requested that in future this be avoided.  She is in support of the proposal because it is being developed as a Transit Dependant Development.  Ms. Matthias is requesting that the Woodlot be officially named after the late Markham Councillor Doreen Quirk.  She is also requesting that staff continue to monitor the Heritage Homes to ensure that the homes do not get destroyed.

 

Mayor Frank Scarpitti advised that the Town is considering a draft policy for the naming of parks, streets, ponds, woodlots, etc and that he is happy to bring forward the request to officially name the Woodlot after the late Markham Councillor Doreen Quirk.  He indicated that the Yonge Street Subway extension is a critical piece of infrastructure and requires senior government funding commitments.

 

Committee members commented on the need for further review of transportation impacts and phasing to ensure that the development is linked to funding and implementation of the Yonge Subway.

 

The Committee thanked the Thornhill Subcommittee members, staff and the Calthorpe Consultant team for bringing forward an innovative, ambitious and exciting plan for the Langstaff area.  The Committee suggested that interaction with  Calthorpe Associates should continue to ensure that what is proposed gets implemented.

 

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Councillor L. Kanapathi

 

That the written submissions from Mr. & Mrs. White;  Ms. Ana Bassios, Town of Richmond Hill; Ms. Jessica Peake, York Region School Board; Ms. Donna L. McLarty, Town of Richmond Hill and Bell Canada, be received.

CARRIED

 

Moved by Councillor V. Burke

Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones

 

1)                  That the report entitled “Information Report: Draft Official Plan Amendment and New Secondary Plan for the Langstaff Portion of the Richmond Hill/Langstaff Gateway Urban Growth Centre” be received;

 

2)                  That the record of the Public Meeting held on March 2, 2010, with respect to the Draft Official Plan amendments and new Secondary Plan for the Langstaff Portion of the Richmond Hill/Langstaff Gateway Urban Growth Centre, be received;

 

 

 

 

3)                  That staff be directed prepare a recommendation report for the Official Plans Amendments and new Secondary Plan for the Langstaff Portion of the Richmond Hill/Langstaff Gateway Urban Growth Centre,;

 

4)                  And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

CARRIED

 

 

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Development Services Public Meeting adjourned at 9:40 PM.